Four-piece nestable cooler

ABSTRACT

An insulated shipping container comprising box housing two identical L-shaped pieces attached at first and second junctions to form a right rectangular prism with a top open side and a bottom open side of identical dimensions to the top open side, a bottom piece aligned with the bottom open side of the right rectangular prism, and a top piece aligned with the top open side of the right rectangular prism. A merchant agent may assemble and pack the insulated shipping container with ice or other coolant material and one or more perishable items for shipment to a customer. The merchant agent may secure the insulated shipping container with tape and ship the one or more perishable items to a customer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to insulated shipping containers, and more particularly to insulated shipping containers assembled from component pieces.

BACKGROUND

Merchants conventionally ship perishable products in insulated containers to maintain a desired temperature for the products, to protect the products, and/or to prevent the contents from spoiling during shipping. A foam cooler within a cardboard box is an effective option for an insulated shipping container. However, storing traditional two-piece foam coolers comprising a five-sided cooler piece (bottom and four side walls) and a lid piece results in increased volume requirement for shipping and storing the two-piece coolers prior to use. Accordingly, a foam cooler comprising component pieces that may be assembled to form the cooler provides for more efficient storage because the pieces may be stacked. However, coolers that are capable of being assembled may be confusing to assemble rapidly when the pieces are of differing sizes or there are too many pieces to assemble.

SUMMARY

Techniques herein provide an insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box housing a four-piece cooler that is assembled from two identical interlocking L-shaped pieces that form the side walls of the cooler, a bottom piece for the cooler, and a top lid piece for the cooler that is identical to the bottom piece. In an example, the cooler comprises a foam cooler assembled from two L-shaped foam pieces and two top/bottom foam pieces. An example L-shaped piece comprises a portion of a cooler comprising two adjacent, perpendicular faces of a cooler comprising a joined corner, a first edge comprising an indention, and a second edge comprising a protrusion. In another example, the first and second edges comprises flat edges. In this example, two L-shaped pieces may be joined by connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped piece with a second edge of a second L-shaped piece and also connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped piece with a first edge of the second L-shaped piece. In an example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece at a first corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece at a second corner opposite the first corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In another example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece within a first face and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece within a second face opposite the first face, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In an example, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. In an example, a top/bottom piece comprises dimensions including the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces plus the width of the four edges circumscribing the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces.

In an example, a merchant assembles two identical top/bottom pieces and two identical L-shaped pieces to form a cooler within a cardboard box, the cardboard box comprising a right rectangular prism comprising dimensions equal to or greater than the dimensions of the cooler such that the cardboard box may house the cooler. In an example, a merchant prepares an insulated shipping container by resting a first top/bottom piece in the bottom of the open cardboard box. Next, the merchant may connect two identical L-shaped pieces by joining the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side having the same dimensions as the open top side. The merchant may place the connected two identical L-shaped pieces forming the four adjacent sides on top of the first top/bottom piece such that either the open bottom side or the open top side of the connected L-shaped pieces is perpendicular to the top/bottom piece resting at the bottom of the box. The merchant may place one or more perishable products resting on top of the top/bottom piece within the four adjacent sides of the assembled two identical L-shaped pieces. The merchant may place a second top/bottom piece on top of the remaining open side of the right rectangular prism formed by the connected two identical L-shaped pieces that are resting on top of the first top/bottom piece, the second top/bottom piece comprising the same dimensions as the first top/bottom piece. In this example, the merchant forms an insulated shipping container comprising one or more perishable products, the insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box comprising a cooler comprising the two connected identical L-shaped pieces and the two identical top/bottom pieces covering the open faces resulting from the joining of the two identical L-shaped pieces. The merchant may close the cardboard box to secure the assembled cooler comprising the one or more perishable products and ship the cardboard box to a desired destination.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the example embodiments will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated example embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting components of an insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box, two identical L-shaped pieces, and two identical top/bottom pieces, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is an illustration depicting identical L-shaped pieces stacked together for storage, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is an illustration depicting two identical L-shaped pieces aligned for connection at connecting edges, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an illustration depicting two identical L-shaped pieces connected at connecting edges, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an illustration depicting an open cardboard box comprising a top/bottom piece in the bottom of the box upon which rests two identical L-shaped pieces connected at connecting edges within the box, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block flow diagram depicting a method for packing, by a merchant an insulated shipping container comprising a cooler assembled from two identical L-shaped pieces and two identical top/bottom pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview

The example embodiments described herein provide a description of an insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box, two identical L-shaped pieces, and two identical top-bottom pieces and a process for packing an insulated shipping container. Current applications for insulated containers do not provide for a four-piece cooler packable within a cardboard box that is assembled from two identical interlocking L-shaped pieces that form the side walls of the cooler, a bottom piece for the cooler, and a top lid piece for the cooler that is identical to the bottom piece.

In an example, an insulated shipping container comprises a cardboard box housing a four-piece cooler that is assembled from two identical interlocking L-shaped pieces that form the side walls of the cooler, a bottom piece for the cooler, and a top piece for the cooler that is identical to the bottom piece. A merchant assembles the four-piece cooler within the cardboard box with one or more perishable items within the cooler. The merchant may seal the cardboard box with the four-piece cooler within to produce the insulated shipping container. The merchant may ship the insulated shipping container to an address of a customer that ordered the one or more perishable items from the merchant.

An example insulated shipping computer is comprised of two identical L-shaped pieces, two identical top-bottom pieces, and a cardboard box. An example L-shaped piece comprises a portion of a cooler comprising two adjacent, perpendicular faces of a cooler comprising a joined corner, a first edge comprising an indention, and a second edge comprising a protrusion. In this example, the protrusion inversely corresponds to the indention such that two L-shaped pieces may interlock or otherwise align at a first junction comprising the interlocking or aligning of a protruding edge of a first L-shaped piece with an indention edge of a second L-shaped piece and at a second junction comprising the interlocking or aligning of an indention edge of the first L-shaped piece with a protruding edge of the second L-shaped piece. In an example, identical L-shaped pieces each comprise eight faces, wherein all faces of each L-shaped piece are either oriented parallel or perpendicular to all other faces.

In an example, a protruding edge of a first L-shaped piece interlocks with an indention edge of a second L-shaped piece via a lock-and-key junction, similarly to two pieces of a puzzle. In this example, two L-shaped pieces may be joined by connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped piece with a second edge of a second L-shaped piece at a first junction and also connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped piece with a first edge of the second L-shaped piece at a second junction. In an example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece at a first corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece at a second corner opposite the first corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In another example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece within a first face and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece within a second face opposite the first face, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In an example, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. In an example, a top/bottom foam piece comprises dimensions including the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces plus the width of the four edges circumscribing the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces.

In an example, a merchant assembles two identical top/bottom foam pieces and two identical L-shaped pieces to form a cooler within a cardboard box, the cardboard box comprising a right rectangular prism comprising dimensions equal to or greater than the dimensions of the cooler such that the cardboard box may house the cooler. In an example, a merchant prepares an insulated shipping container by resting a first top/bottom foam piece in the bottom of the open cardboard box. Next, the merchant may connect two identical L-shaped pieces by joining the first edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side having the same dimensions as the open top side. The merchant may place the connected two identical L-shaped pieces forming the four adjacent sides on top of the first top/bottom foam piece such that either the open bottom side or the open top side of the connected L-shaped pieces is perpendicular to the top/bottom foam piece resting at the bottom of the box.

The merchant may place one or more perishable products resting on top of the top/bottom foam piece within the four adjacent sides of the assembled two identical L-shaped pieces. The merchant may place a second top/bottom foam piece on top of the remaining open side of the right rectangular prism formed by the connected two identical L-shaped foam pieces that are resting on top of the first top/bottom foam piece, the second top/bottom foam piece comprising the same dimensions as the first top/bottom foam piece. In this example, the merchant forms an insulated shipping container comprising one or more perishable products, the insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box comprising a cooler comprising the two connected identical L-shaped foam pieces and the two identical top/bottom foam pieces covering the open faces resulting from the joining of the two identical L-shaped foam pieces. The merchant may close the cardboard box to secure the assembled cooler comprising the one or more perishable products and ship the cardboard box to a desired destination.

By using and relying on the methods and systems described herein, the merchant may create and pack an insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box, two identical L-shaped foam pieces, and two identical top-bottom foam pieces and a process for packing an insulated shipping container. As such, the systems and methods described herein may reduce the storage space necessary for storage of components of insulated shipping containers and increase the ease at which insulated shipping containers may be assembled. For example, the L-shaped pieces may be stacked and efficiently stored according to the example embodiments provided herein. Further, the L-shaped ideas, being identical, are easily assembled by merchant agents by locking or otherwise aligning two L-shaped pieces along interlocking or inverse flat edges.

Example System Architecture

Turning now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like (but not necessarily identical) elements throughout the figures, example embodiments are described in detail.

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting example components of an example insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box, two identical L-shaped pieces, and two identical top/bottom pieces, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

In an example, the components of an example insulated shipping container comprise two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102, two identical top/bottom pieces 103 and 104, and a cardboard box 105.

An example L-shaped piece 101 or 102 comprises An example L-shaped piece 101 comprises a portion of a cooler comprising two adjacent, perpendicular faces of a cooler comprising a joined corner 101 c, a first edge 101 a comprising an indention, and a second edge 101 b comprising a protrusion. In this example, the protrusion edge 101 b of the L-shaped piece 101 inversely corresponds to the indention edge 101 a such that the L-shaped piece 101 may interlock or otherwise align with an identical L-shaped piece 102 at a first junction comprising the interlocking or aligning of the protruding edge 101 b of the first L-shaped piece 101 with an indention edge 102 a of a second L-shaped piece 102 and at a second junction comprising the interlocking or aligning of an indention edge 101 a of the first L-shaped piece 101 with a protruding edge 102 b of the second L-shaped piece 102. In an example, ignoring the protruding and/or indented nature of the edges 101 a, 101 b, 102 a, and 102 b, identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 each comprise eight faces.

In an example, a protruding edge 101 b of a first L-shaped piece 101 may interlock with an indention edge 102 a of a second L-shaped piece 102 via a lock-and-key junction and an indented edge 101 a of the first L-shaped piece 101 may interlock with a protruding edge 102 b of the second L-shaped piece 102, similarly to puzzle pieces. In this example, two L-shaped pieces may be joined by connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped piece 101 with a second edge of a second L-shaped piece 102 at a first junction and also connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 with a first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a second junction. In an example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a first corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a second corner opposite the first corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In another example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 within a first face and not at a corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 within a second face opposite the first face also not at a corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In an example, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. In an example, a top/bottom foam piece comprises dimensions including the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 plus the width of the four edges circumscribing the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102.

In an example, two identical top/bottom pieces 103 and 104 each comprise dimensions including the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 plus the width of the four edges circumscribing the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102. In an example, the two identical top/bottom pieces 103 and 104 comprise the same width as each of the L-shaped pieces 101 and 102. In an example embodiment, each of the top/bottom pieces 103 and 104 is able to fit flat bottom of the box.

In an example the cardboard box 105 comprises a standard box made of cardboard used for shipping purposes. However, in certain examples, the cardboard box 105 may be made of a material other than cardboard. The cardboard box 105 may comprise dimensions such that the cooler comprising the connected identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 and the top/bottom pieces 103 and 104 fits within the cardboard box 105. For example, the cardboard box 105 may comprise dimensions that are an eighth of an inch wider in each dimension than the dimensions of the cooler so that the assembled cooler can fit within the cardboard box 105 and so that the cardboard box 105 can be closed around the cooler for shipping.

Example Processes

The example method illustrated in FIG. 6 is described hereinafter with respect to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The example method of FIG. 6 may also be performed with other systems and in other environments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting a method 600 for packing, by a merchant, an insulated shipping container comprising a cardboard box 105 housing a cooler assembled from two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 and two identical top/bottom pieces 103 and 104, in accordance with certain example embodiments. The method 600 is described with reference to the components illustrated in FIG. 1.

In block 610, a merchant agent connects two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102.

FIG. 2 is an illustration depicting identical L-shaped pieces stacked together for storage, in accordance with certain example embodiments. In this example illustration, six L-shaped pieces 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, and 206 are nested together for storage. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the L-shaped pieces may be stacked such that wasted storage space is minimized. In an example, the merchant agent retrieves two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 from the stored identical L-shaped pieces.

In an example, a protruding edge 101 b of a first L-shaped piece 101 may interlock with an indention edge 102 a of a second L-shaped piece 102 via a lock-and-key junction and an indented edge 101 a of the first L-shaped piece 101 may interlock with a protruding edge 102 b of the second L-shaped piece 102, similarly to puzzle pieces. In this example, two L-shaped pieces may be joined by connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped piece 101 with a second edge of a second L-shaped piece 102 at a first junction and also connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 with a first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a second junction. In an example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a first corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a second corner opposite the first corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions.

FIG. 3 is an illustration depicting two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 aligned for connection at connecting edges 301 and 302, in accordance with certain example embodiments. FIG. 3 illustrates two L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 that may be joined by connecting a first protruding edge 101 b of a first L-shaped piece 101 with a second indented edge 102 a of a second L-shaped piece 102 at a first corner junction 301 and also connecting a second indented edge 101 a of the first L-shaped piece 101 with a first protruding edge 102 b of the second L-shaped piece 102 at a second corner junction 302 opposite the first corner junction 301.

In another example, the first edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 within a first face and not at a corner and the second edge of the first L-shaped piece 101 is joined to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece 102 within a second face opposite the first face also not at a corner, the two connected L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 forming four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In an example, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. In an example, a top/bottom foam piece comprises dimensions including the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 plus the width of the four edges circumscribing the open bottom face of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102.

FIG. 4 is an illustration depicting two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 connected at connecting edges 301 and 302, in accordance with certain example embodiments. In this illustration, the two connected L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 are joined at edges 101 a to 102 b and 101 b to 102 a to form four adjacent sides 401 of a right rectangular prism connected at two connecting edges 301 and 302 with an open top side and an open bottom side, the open top face and the open bottom face comprising the same dimensions. In the example illustration of FIG. 4, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. However, in other examples, the right rectangular prism does not comprise a cube.

Returning to FIG. 6, in block 620, the merchant agent places a first top/bottom piece 103 in the bottom of a cardboard box 105. In an example embodiment, the bottom of the cardboard box 105 comprises the same dimensions or slightly larger dimensions than the first top/bottom piece 103. In an example, slightly larger comprises one eighth of an inch, one sixteenth of an inch, or three millimeters larger than the length and width of top/bottom piece to allow placement of the first top/bottom piece 103 in the bottom of the cardboard box 105. In an example, the top/bottom piece 103 comprises the same length and width as either of the two open faces of the right rectangular prism formed by the connection of the two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102.

In block 630, the merchant agent places the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 on top of the first top/bottom piece 103 within the cardboard box 105 to form a cooler with an open face. In an example, the shape of the cooler formed by the positioning of the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 placed on top of the first top/bottom piece 103 forms a right rectangular prism with a single open face, the single open face of the right rectangular prism being the top face of the right rectangular prism. In an example, the right rectangular prism comprises a cube wherein all faces of the cube comprise the same dimensions. In an example, the first top/bottom piece 103 may comprise a protruding edge along the side upon which is affixed an open face of the right rectangular prism formed as a result of connecting the two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102. In this example, the protruding edge allows the first top/bottom piece 103 to form a seal with the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 which are placed on top of the first top/bottom piece 103.

FIG. 5 is an illustration depicting an almost assembled cooler 501 comprising an open cardboard box housing a first top/bottom piece 103 in the bottom of the box upon which rests two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 connected at connecting edges 301 and 302 within the cardboard box 105, in accordance with certain example embodiments. For example, the merchant takes the four adjacent sides 401 of the right rectangular prism with open top and bottom faces, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and places the four adjacent sides on top of the first top/bottom piece 103 within the cardboard box 105 such that one of the open face of the right rectangular prism is covered by the first top/bottom piece 103 within the cardboard box 105, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The example almost assembled cooler 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises enough space to insert a second top/bottom piece 104 on top of the remaining open face of the right rectangular prism formed by the connection of the two L-shaped pieces 101 and 102. The example almost assembled cooler 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises space in which the merchant agent may place one or more perishable goods for shipment.

Returning to FIG. 6, in block 640, the merchant agent places one or more perishable goods within the cooler space formed by the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 and the first top/bottom piece 103 within the cardboard box 105. In an example embodiment, a perishable good comprises a good that must be refrigerated in ice. For example, the merchant agent may place ice or other coolant material in the almost assembled cooler 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 along with one or more perishable products.

In block 650, the merchant agent places a second top/bottom piece 104 on top of the open face of the cooler formed by the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102 and the first top/bottom piece 103 within the cardboard box 105 to form a closed cooler. In an example, the second top/bottom piece 104 may comprise a protruding edge along the side the fits into the remaining open face of the right rectangular prism formed as a result of connecting the two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102. In this example, the protruding edge allows the top/bottom piece 104 to form a seal with the connected two identical L-shaped pieces 101 and 102.

In block 660, the merchant agent seals the closed cooler within the cardboard box 105 to create an insulated shipping container. For example, the merchant agent closes the top of the cardboard box 105 to form the insulated shipping container comprising the one or more perishable goods. In this example, the merchant agent may apply packing tape to the cardboard box 105 to secure the cardboard box 105 for shipment. In an example, the merchant agent affixes and address to the insulated shipping container comprising the one or more perishable goods and ships the insulated shipping container to an address. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated container, comprising: two identical L-shaped pieces connected at a first and second junction that form four sides of a right rectangular prism, wherein a top face and a bottom face of the right rectangular prism comprise first and second open faces; a bottom piece upon which the first open face of the right rectangular prism comprising the connected two identical L-shaped pieces rests; and a top piece, resting on top of the second open face of the right rectangular prism comprising the connected two identical L-shaped pieces.
 2. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the two identical L-shaped pieces, the bottom piece, and the top piece are comprised of foam and are of equal thickness.
 3. The insulated container of claim 2, wherein the foam comprises Styrofoam.
 4. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a box, wherein the bottom piece, two identical L-shaped pieces, and the top piece are housed within the box.
 5. The insulated container of claim 4, wherein the box comprises a cardboard box.
 6. The insulated container of claim 4, wherein the box is taped shut with tape.
 7. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the right rectangular prism comprises a cube.
 8. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the first and second junctions are at corners of the right rectangular prism.
 9. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the first and second junctions are within opposite faces of the right rectangular prism.
 10. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein each of the L-shaped piece comprises a protruding edge and an indented edge, wherein the protruding edge of one of the L-shaped pieces fits into the indented edge of the other one of the L-shaped pieces at the first junction, and wherein the protruding edge of the other one of the L-shaped pieces fits into the indented edge of the one of the L-shaped pieces at the second junction.
 11. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge of the first L-shaped piece that is aligned with a second flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction and wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a second flat edge that aligns with a first flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction.
 12. A method to assemble an insulated shipping container, comprising: laying a first bottom container piece along a bottom of an inside of a box; connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped container piece to a second edge of a second L-shaped container piece at a first junction, wherein the second L-shaped piece is identical to the first L-shaped piece and connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped container piece to a first edge of the second L-shaped container piece at a second junction to form four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism comprising a top open side and a bottom open side; placing the connected first and second L-shaped container pieces on top of the bottom container piece in the box to align the bottom container piece with the bottom open side of the right rectangular prism and aligning the first and second L-shaped container pieces along sides of the inside of the box; placing a top container piece on top of the top open side of the right rectangular prism to form an assembled container inside the box; and closing the box around the assembled container.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two identical L-shaped container pieces, the bottom container piece, and the top container piece are made of foam and are of equal thickness.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the box comprises a cardboard box.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising securing the box with tape.
 16. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the first and second junctions are at corners of the right rectangular prism.
 17. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the first and second junctions are within opposite faces of the right rectangular prism.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the right rectangular prism comprises a cube.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first L-shaped container piece comprises a first protruding edge and a second indented edge, wherein the second L-shaped container piece comprises a first protruding edge and a second indented edge, wherein connecting the first edge of the first L-shaped container piece to the second edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the first junction comprises inserting the first protruding edge of the first L-shaped container piece into the second indented edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the first junction, and wherein connecting the second edge of the first L-shaped container piece to the first edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the second junction comprises inserting the second indented edge of the first L-shaped container piece into the first protruding edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the second junction.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge and a second flat edge, wherein the second L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge and a second flat edge, wherein connecting the first edge of the first L-shaped piece to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction comprises aligning the first flat edge of the first L-shaped piece to the second flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction, and wherein connecting the second edge of the first L-shaped piece to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction comprises aligning the second flat edge of the first L-shaped piece to the first flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction. 